Minoru Haga

Impaired Growth of Small Intestinal Epithelium by Adrenalectomy in Weaning Rats

Functional maturation of the small intestine occurs during the weaning period in rats. It is known that this development is facilitated by glucocorticoid. However, the effect of glucocorticoid on morphological development of small intestine has yet to be clarified. The present study evaluated the morphological development and cell proliferation of the small intestine in adrenalectomized (ADX) rat pups. To further understand the mechanism of glucocorticoid effects on intestinal development, we examined the localization of the glucocorticoid receptor in the small intestine. Microscopic analysis showed that growth of villi and crypts is age-dependent, and is significantly attenuated in ADX rats compared with sham-operated rats. BrdU-positive cells, i.e. proliferating cells, were primarily observed in crypt compartments and rapidly increased in number during the early weaning period. The increase in BrdU-positive cells could be attenuated by adrenalectomy. The morphological development of small intestine may be associated with increased proliferation of epithelial cells. On the other hand, glucocorticoid receptors were found in epithelial cells of the mid- and lower villi and not in crypts where BrdU-positive cells were localized. These results indicate that the growth of small intestine is attenuated by adrenalectomy, and that glucocorticoid indirectly acts on proliferation of epithelial cells during the weaning period.

Conformation and Some Properties of Bovine αs2-Group-casein

The conformation and some properties of bovine αs2-group-casein (a mixture of αs2-, αs3- and αs4-casein) were investigated. The secondary structure was estimated from Moffitt parameters and circular dichroism spectra in the ultraviolet region. αs2-Group-casein contained about 20% of α-helix and a small amount of β-form. The higher content of α-helix in αs2-group-casein than in αs1-casein is considered to be due to the lower content of proline. It is shown that heat treatment at 90°C for 15 min caused about 35% destruction of the α-helix. It is also shown by charge shift electrophoresis that αs2-group-casein has an amphiphilic structure.

Nitroblue Tetrazolium Reduction of Rice Leaf Slices Stimulated with Blast Fungus Hyphal Component

Rice leaf slices stimulated with blast fungus hyphal component reduced nitroblue tetrazolium in a damped oscillatory profile with relaxing half wavelength in a medium containing glucose, when the respective rate of reduction was plotted against the function of time after the application of blast fungus hyphal component. In the presence of 110μm FAD and glucose, the wave number of the reduction profile increased 4- to 5-fold when compared to that in the absence of exogenous FAD. Exogenous FAD in the increasing concentration of 70 to 110 μm, which was added in the presence of glucose, gave a positive heterotropic-like response upon the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium with rice leaf slices which were press-injured and stimulated. Exogenous pyrroloquinoline quinone in the increasing concentration of 10−3 to 10−1 μm, which was added in the presence of glucose, gave an inhibition upon the reduction. From sediment of the homogenate of stimulated rice leaf slices, the nitroblue tetrazolium reducing redox-enzym...